We are very excited to welcome 3 new staffers to our LeadMN team! We have Oscar Corral taking over as Outreach Coordinator, Carissa Benson as Communication Coordinator, and Sergio Aguilar as Policy Manager.
Oscar is passionate about community organizing, social and racial justice and empowering students to be their best. He is dedicated to advocating for those who cannot, especially in the field of education, as he realized that every student deserves the right to equal access and affordable education regardless of their background. Education is a key component of how Oscar wants to make a difference in our communities. In the past, he has worked with other organizations like Unidos MN who game him the tools necessary to set in motion his passion to tackle the variety of issues that our diverse communities of students face today. He believes that LeadMN will allow him to explore and develop more tools to continue serving students in our technical and community colleges. Outside of work, Oscar loves to do activism and organizing work, hang out with friends, play video games, watch anime, or enjoy a long afternoon laying down with his cat, Mushin.
Carissa is excited about all the new opportunities she has with LeadMN. She is eager to find new ways to form connections and successfully communicate with students. As a former Legislative Assistant in the Minnesota Senate, she is looking forward to getting more closely involved with students and finding new ways to advocate for their needs. She believes education is a right for all and hopes to effectively communicate the mission of LeadMN and students to truly make a change to the educational system. In her free time, Carissa enjoys baking for others, trying new foods, and rewatching "Parks and Rec" with her husband and cats, Stanley and Baker Meowfield.
Sergio found his passion for higher education work during grad school while working as a Graduate Assistant for Diversity & Inclusion, helping with their recruitment and retention strategies for underrepresented students. He believes that all people should have the right to quality and affordable education. Community college provides this opportunity and he looks forward to making changes that will positively impact all students. In his free time, Sergio enjoys spending time with his wife, Kari, friends, and family, and cheering on the mighty Loons at their new Allianz Stadium.
Please join us in welcoming these 3 to LeadMN!
